Siphon system



Nv. 18 1941. R. w. HAvERLr-:Y

SIPHON SYSTEM Filed May 2, 1940 Fig l.

`netic means for positively Patented Nov. 18,` 1941 UNITED STATE sIPHoN SYSTEM Rex William `Haverley, Harborne, `lirmingham, England, assigner to Incandescent Heat Company Limited, `Smetlrwick, England, a British Application May 2, 1940,'seria1N0.

In Great Britain May 6, 1939 5 Claims. `(Cl. 137;-20)

This invention has referenceto improvements in siphon systems, `and is` more particularly applicable to a siphon system which is associated with an electrically controlled circuit which is automatically cut out when the siphoningopera- 5 tion is initiated.

The invention is particularly applicable to siphon-systems utilised in the handling of solutions of say a high freezing point, or for the transfer of corrosive fluids. l

The control means for the siphon system is disposed above the fluid flow line so that the fluid does not make contact with any of the control mechanism, whereby the operative parts of the control mechanism are not brought into contact with the ui'd passing through .the siphon system, thus obviatingundue wear or corrosion of the operative or controlling parts of the system.

The invention consists of a priming and controlling siphonv system,V characterised` by an elec- 1- tric circuit controlling mechanism forautomatically cutting outthe electric motive power when the siphon `system is in operation, the` invention being furthercharacterised by `an electro-magoperating the outlet valve of the siphonsystem. y

In the drawing: l I l Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating the essential features comprising the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates an alternative control means for the electric circuit to that illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. `3 illustrates a modicationof the operat-` ing means for the outlet or delivery valve of the` siphon system while I l Fig. 4 is an `elevation at right angles to Fig. 3. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingsheet of diagrams in which similar reference numerals indicate similar parts in the different views.` f l As hereinbefore'stated it is-to ybe appreciated that the siphon systemis primarily intended for the-handling of solutions having'say a high freezing point, `or for the -transfer of corrosive `fluids from one receptacle toV another.'` The siphon pipe which is illustrated in the lower part of the diagram Fig. 1 is otthe usual construction having an inlet or supply tubular leg 5 and a valve controlled outlet or delivery tubular-leg 6a pipe 'I connecting the two legs,- whichpipe 'I in turn is connected to or extends into an upwardly dii rected tubular chamber 8 within which is freely` located a float 9 pivotally suspended from one end of an arm l9a also located in the float chamber, said arm having connected therewith a con-` tact switch mechanism I0 which forms part of an 65 stem Ila in order t0 ensure that electric circuit connected to the mains. This float chamber 8 is provided with va relief' Valve IIand also an outlet valve I2 which is connected through a pipeline I3a to` a vacuum pump I3, thel pump I3 being driven by a motor I4 coupled thereto, which motor is connected in the said mains circuit.

- In the mains circuit there is disposed a pair of electro-magnets or solenoids I5, I 6,`both of which are associated With the valve stem I1a of the delivery or outlet valve I'I which is disposed within the leg 6 of the`siphon, one magnet or solenoid I5 serving to maintain the Valve Il in the closed position While the other magnet or solenoid I6 serves to positively open the valve II, the said magnets or solenoids `obviously being adapted `for alternative energisation according to requirements. The valve stem I'Ia is slidably mounted within substantially irictionless glands disposed about the valve stemwithin the cap Ilb mounted on an` upwardly directed extension of the delivery leg 6, the said glands preferably being spring-loaded to avoid leakage about the Valve stem.

' Locatedrin the mains circuit is a switch I8 which is operated through an electro-magnet or solenoid I9 which is energised by the operation of a starter push-button 20; while in the circuit through the switch I0 is another electro-magnet or solenoid 2| which serves to operate a doubleacting switch 22 also associated with the mains circuit and the two electro-magnets or solenoids I5, I Swhich positively control the operation of the outlet `valve I'I. The starterbutton 20 is employed` for the commencement'of the operation while` there is preferably incorporated a stop push-button 23 to of it being desirable to stop the operation of the vacuum pump `before initiation of the ow through the siphon system. l

The operation of thev priming and controlling siphon system is as follows:

Assuming the `mains circuit to be broken and it is desired to commenceoperationit is lirst necessary to` close the siphon system through the outlet valve I'I and exhaust air from the system in order to create a partial vacuum therein. This operation is electedby pressing the starter push-button 20 which through the electro-magnet or solenoid I9 closes the switch I8 in the mains circuit, thereby energising the other electro-magnet or solenoid 2| ing solenoid I 5 associated with the outlet valve the outletvalve break the circuit in the event which voperatesl the'doubleacting`switch 22 to energise the lift- I1 shall be postively held against its seating in the delivery pipe 6. At the same time the circuit through the motor I4 is closed and the motor drives the vacuum pump I3, which serves to create a partial vacuum in the siphon line and in the float chamber 8,'thereby causing fluid to flow up the supply pipe 5 along the connecting pipe 1 to the delivery pipe 6 as far as the top of the one way outlet valve I1; at the same time liquid is drawn up within the oat chamber 8 until the float 9 is reached and lifted by this liquid. This lifting of the oat 9 causes the float arm 9a to open the contact switch I associated therewith, thereby de-energising the electro-magnet or solenoid 2l associated with the double-acting switch 22, thus de-energising the valve lifting solenoid I6 and energising the valve lowering solenoid I6 which positively ensures the opening of the delivery or outlet valve I1 of the Siphon system, thereby permitting flow to continue while there is a supply of liquid available.

Simultaneous with the de-energisation of the lifting solenoid I and the energisation of the lowering solenoid I6, the circuit through the motor I4 is opened through the double-acting switch 22 with the result that the operation of the vacuum pump I3 ceases.

Consequent upon the release of the starter push-button 20, which release would normally tend to open the circuit through the mains switches I8, the opening of this circuit is prevented or delayed until the delivery valve I1 is completely open, when this circuit is broken by means of a trip pawl hereinafter referred to.

Associated with the valve stem l1a is a pawl 24 which serves to positively open an automatic switch contact 25 in the mains circuit when the valve I1 reaches the fully opened position, thereby tripping the mains switch I8 upon the deenergisation of the electro-magnet or solenoid I9 associ-ated therewith in the mains circuit.

The relief valve II associated with the float chamber 8 is utilised to prevent the vacuum rising above the maximum necessary to lift the float 9 and to prevent admission of liquid from this chamber into the vacuum pump line I3a.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2 of the diagrams, as an alternative means of con trolling the electric circuit there may be substituted for the oat 9 and the iioat arm 9a and the contact switch mechanism I0, an insulated electrode 26 disposed in what has been termed the oat chamber 8, which electrode serves when the liquid in this chamber rises and makes contact therewith to complete the circuit through the electrode to energise the electro-magnet or solenoid 2| associated with the double-acting switch 22, and thereby effect the same sequence of operations as hereinbefore described.

Since the solenoid 2l is to be energized upon completion of the circuit through the electrode 26 in the modification shown in Fig. 2, it is necessary that the connections of the double-acting switch 22 be reversed when this modification is employed. With the connections of the doubleacting switch so reversed, the energization of the solenoid 2I upon completion of the circuit through the electrode 26 will cause the circuit through the solenoid I5 and the motor I4 to be broken, and will cause the circuit through the solenoid I6 to be completed.

Referring now more particularly to the modification illustrated by Figs, 3 and 4, instead of disposing the valve stem I1a within the delivery leg 6 of the siphon system the control of the delivery valve I1 may be effected through an external arrangement of what may be termed the valve stems or valve rods, in that the delivery or outlet valve I1 is connected by means of a yoke I1c to a pair of valve or link rods I1d disposed on either side and parallel with the delivery leg 6. These stems or rods at their upper end are pivotally connected to a forked rockable lever 21 fulcrummed on a bracket 28, the other or single arm of the said lever 21 being pivotally connected to the moving member of what may be termed the double-acting or twoway solenoid I5, I6 mounted on a bracket 29.

It will be appreciated that the push-buttons 20 and 23 can be conveniently mounted on the front of a panel behind which is disposed the switch contacts electro-magnets or solenoids and the other control mechanism of the electric circuit, and that from this panel there may be provided a convenient pipe connection to the pump I3, and electric lead connections to the other parts of the electrically-controlled mechanism such as the motor I4 and the valve operating solenoids I5 and I6.

I claim:

1. An automatically primed and controlled Siphon system comprising a Siphon having inlet and outlet legs and a junction between them, a closed chamber connected to said junction and extending thereabove, a float in said chamber, electrical contacts controlled by said float, a vacuum pump controlled by said contacts for producing a predetermined liquid level in said chamber by exhausting air therefrom, and a solenoid-actuated valve at the lower end of said outlet leg, having means controlled by said contacts for positively holding said valve shut until said liquid level is attained and means controlled by said contacts for positively forcing said valve open when said liquid level is attained.

2. An automatically primed and controlled siphon system comprising a siphon having inlet and outlet legs and a junction between them, a closed chamber connected to said junction and extending thereabove, an electrode located at a predetermined level in said chamber, a vacuum pump controlled by an electrical circuit through said electrode and liquid in said chamber for producing a predetermined liquid level in said chamber by exhausting air therefrom, and a solenoid-actuated valve at the lower end of said outlet leg, having means controlled by said circuit for positively holding said valve shut until said liquid level is attained and means controlled by said circuit for positively forcing said valve open when said liquid level is attained.

3. An automatically primed and controlled siphon system comprising a siphon having inlet and outlet legs and a junction between them, a closed chamber connected to said junction and extending thereabove, electrical contacts controlled by the liquid level in said chamber, a vacuum pump controlled by said contacts for producing a predetermined liquid level in said chamber by exhausting air therefrom, a solenoidactuated valve at the lower end of said outlet leg, having means controlled by said contacts for positively holding said valve shut until said liquid level is attained and means controlled by said contacts for positively forcing said valve open when said liquid level is attained, a resettable switch that energizes said contacts when reset, and means controlled by said contacts for opening said switch to deenergize said Coni-,acts when said liquid level is attained.

4. An automatically primed and controlled siphon system comprising a siphon having inlet and outlet legs and a junction between them, a closed chamber connected to said junction and extending thereabove, electrical contacts controlled by the liquid level in said chamber, a vacuum pump controlled by said contacts for producing a predetermined liquid level in said chamber by exhausting air therefrom, a valve at the lower end of said outlet leg, an elongated rod for operating said valve extending upward therefrom, a solenoid-operated device controlled by said contacts, said device comprising means to apply force at the upper end of said rod for positively holding said valve shut until said liquid level is attained and also comprising means to apply force at the upper end of said rod for positively forcing said valve open when said liquid level is attained.

5. An automatically vprimed and controlled siphon system comprising a siphon having inlet and outlet legs and a junction between them, a

`closed chamber connected to said junction and extending thereabcve, electrical contacts controlled by the liquid level in said chamber, a vacuum pump controlled by said contacts for producing a predetermined liquid level in said chamber by exhausting air therefrom, a valve at the lower end of said outlet leg supported by a yoke, elongated rods connected to said yoke and extending upward outside of said outlet leg, a solenoid-operated device controlled by said contacts, said device comprising means to apply force at the upper ends of said rods for positively holding said valve shut until said liquid level is attained and also comprising means to apply force at the upper ends of said rods for positively forcing said valve open when said liquid level is attained.

REX WILLIAM HAVERLEY. 

